Swifts progress in the Cup

Kevyn Fowler, yes Kevyn Fowler scored the winner as Jeanfield over came Tranent on Saturday in an entertaining East of Scotland Cup 3rd round tie at Riverside Stadium.

The midfielder scored just before the break to squeeze the home side through in a match played in horrible conditions.

Ross Gunnion made 2 change to the side who lost to Bonnyrigg last week with Fraser Smith and Scott Mollison returning to the starting line up. It was Mollys first appearance sine the opening day 5-0 win at Armadale. They replaced the unfortunate Lewis Baker who suffered a broken nose last week and Daniel Kelly who both took their place on the bench.

Tranent came up to Perth top of the South League and a squad full of players who have played at a higher level and are hoping to get back to that place with their current club.

It was the visitors who started well and Mark Mitchell had to get down sharp to his left early on to stop a Beaton shot from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner. The away team were in charge at this point passing the ball around well and Swifts were just chasing shadows in the middle of the park. They did settle and started to give the ball to Chris Dodd wide and he was causing problems for the visiting full back. Twice he set up Chris McLeish but sadly Beako could not hit the target.

Tranent then hit the bar when a free kick from Manson on the left was headed against his own bar by a Swifts defender and away for a corner. The goal was coming at this point and it arrived not long after. Good play on the right saw the ball fall to Miller who knocked past Mitchell to give the visitors a deserved lead. The goal gave them more confidence and they dominated for the next 10 minutes but only some stout defending stopped them from increasing the lead.

Jeanie finally settled down and started to take the game to the away team. Mollison crossed from the left and McLeishs effort was blocked away to safety. The goal did come and it was that man Holt again. Dodd played him the ball in the box and 1 Cryuff turn later a sweet left foot strike found the top corner. Hopefully this goal would push Jeanie on but sadly soon after they were caught on the counter.

Fleming gave away a free kick close to half way. Quickly the ball was played forward to McMillan who crossed for Fisher at the back of the box. He cut inside and squared the ball to Miller who had the easy task of knocking the ball past Mitchell to make it 2-1 to Tranent.

Minutes later though Holt headed Jeanfield level when he headed home a Fleming cross from the left leaving Inglis in the goal no chance. That made it 3 goals in around 5 minutes for the watching crowd under the enclosure. The winner came soon after and what a good goal it was.

Anton played to Dodd on the touchline who in turn passed inside to Holt around 20 yards out. With his back to goal and marker tight to him he back heeled the ball to the on rushing Fowler who rounded the keeper and tapped into an empty net to give Swifts the lead just before the break.

The second period was end to end stuff with both teams looking very dangerous on the attack on what was now a very wet and heavy Riverside playing surface. Dodd on several occasions tried his luck when he cut inside but the keeper was on his toes matching him.

The visitors had the best chance when Flynn was slipped through as darkness decended. His effort was blocked by Mitchell but the rebound fell to McMillan who had the simply task of knocking the ball into an empty net. That was until Fleming made a fantastic block and the ball ended up back in Mitchells arms.

Mitch then made an outstanding save in injury time when Beaton curled a free kick towards the top corner and it looked in all the way until the Swifts number 1 pulled out a left glove and touched it wide for a corner. Tranent were throwing all they had at Swifts now but the home side held out to book their place in the last 16 of the cup.

This was a thrilling tie to watch with both sides committed to attacking football and both getting the ball on the deck and not resorting to lumping it in the heavy and sometimes awful conditions. Tranent are a cracking side and are certainly one of the favourites for promotion to the Premier League to which they would be an asset.